Good Morning, Fitchrona!

Today is Monday of CSA Week!

Did you know that Wisconsin is home to 58,521 farms spanning 13.8 million acres, with an average farm size of 236 acres? Yes - we fact checked this. Agriculture is a powerhouse industry here, supporting 353,900 jobs and making up 9.5% of the state’s workforce! Wisconsin leads the way in direct-to-consumer farm sales, meaning more fresh, sustainable food goes straight from local farms to your table. By supporting Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and farmers' markets, you're investing in a stronger, healthier community.

Spoiler: We’ve got some great tools to help you support CSAs. Read on to find out! 😉 

The Focus will be the highlight of your Monday morning - something you can enjoy in under 5 minutes with your coffee ☕︎ ! Let’s fill our cups!

Big news, the Fitchrona Focus is growing up!

Yesterday, we launched our brand-new website that will make it much easier for readers to find our previous features and articles. We’re also a little biased, but we think it looks pretty great.

Check it out and tell us what you think! We see and reply to every email.

We also want your input! We’re receiving more requests from makers and businesses with events to feature just outside of Fitchburg and Verona. We want to support them, but we also want to put Fitchrona first and stay true to our mission. Let us know what you’d prefer to see using the poll below!

-Liv - Fitchrona Focus Founder

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Last Week’s Highlights

First Annual Winter Carnival in Paoli

Head down to Seven Acres in Paoli this weekend for winter fun in February! Get festive and frolic on February 22nd and 23rd at the first annual Winter Carnival. A portion of proceeds will benefit Belleville EMS, who will be onsite engaging with families, offering ambulance tours, and giving out first aid kits (while supplies last).

Although warming tents, bonfires, and indoor spaces will be available, most activities are outdoors. Dress in layers for comfort.

Event Highlights:

🎶 Live Music – Featuring Christo's Novelty Combo.
🍻 Breweries & Distilleries – Drinks available for purchase from Hop Garden, One Barrel, Dancing Goat, Cutwater, and Tipsy Bee's Tap Trailer.
🔥 Bonfires & Fire Pits – Gather around for warmth and conversation.
🦙 Petting Zoo – Hosted by Wegmueller Farms.
🎨 Arts & Crafts – Presented by Southern Wisconsin Art Guild, Inc. (SWAG).
☕ Hot Chocolate Bar – Free hot chocolate for kids!
🍕 Food Vendors – Ian's Pizza, Miggy's Bakes, and more delicious options available for purchase.
❄️ Winter Activities – Games, contests, and more.
🥶 Sugar River Polar Dip & Sauna – Take a dip or warm up in the sauna (proper attire required).
🍪 Cookie Decorating – Available for purchase.
🏨 Lodging – Available for those making a weekend of it.
🍽️ Brunch at Seven Acre – Served from 10 AM - 2 PM.

Ticket Information:

🎟️ Adults – $10 per ticket + tax
🎟️ Children – $7 per ticket + tax (ages 3 & under free)

Get Saturday tickets here. Get Sunday tickets here.

Included with Ticket: Live Music, Petting Zoo, Outdoor Activities, Polar Dip (bring a suit and towel), Sauna, and Hot Cocoa Bar for Kids.

The event takes place rain, snow, or shine for a memorable winter celebration in Paoli.

The Fitchrona Focus 2025 CSA and Farm-To-Table Guide

Do you like to know where your food comes from? If you value transparency in your food choices and supporting local, you’ll love our comprehensive CSA and farm-to-table directory!

With details on 24 local CSAs and farm-to-table options, it’s the perfect guide for conscious eaters. Key highlights include:

• 6,000+ words of in-depth content. We did the hard work to make choosing local easy this year

• A table of contents sorted by products offered, making it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for

• Options for everything, including organic vegetables, premium meats, flowers, butter, honey, coffee and more

• A variety of pick-up and delivery choices so you can find an option that works for your schedule

• Direct website and social media details for each provider

Check out the Fitchrona Focus CSA guide here.

Reminder: Pet & Poultry Licensing Requirements in Fitchburg & Verona

If you own a dog or cat in Fitchburg or Verona - or are considering a chicken with the rising egg prices - it’s time to make sure your pet is properly licensed! Not only is pet licensing a local requirement, but failure to do so can result in fines ranging from $50 to $100 under Wisconsin Statutes §95.21(10)—and that’s on top of any late fees.

Fitchburg Pet Licensing Rules

🐶 Dogs & Cats: Must be licensed annually if over five months old.
📄 Rabies Vaccination: Proof is required for licensing.
💰 Fees:

• Dogs: $15 (spayed/neutered), $20 (unspayed/unneutered).

• Cats: $5 (spayed/neutered), $7 (unspayed/unneutered).
  ⏳ Deadline: April 1, or within 30 days of acquiring a pet—late fees apply.
  🏠 Pet Limits: Households may have up to three dogs or cats; more requires a kennel license and an inspection.
  📍 How to License: In-person or by mail at Fitchburg City Hall (5520 Lacy Road).

  More info here.

Verona Licensing Rules

🐶 Dogs & Cats: Must be licensed annually if over five months old.
📄 Rabies Vaccination: Required for licensing.
⏳ Deadline: March 31—renew before then to avoid late fees.

🐔 Backyard Chickens: Households can keep up to four chickens with a valid annual license. The application requires a completed form, a notification letter for neighbors, and a Livestock Premises Registration from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The $20 license fee applies, with a $5 late fee after March 31—unless chickens are acquired later in the year.

📍 Submit applications and payments to Verona City Hall (111 Lincoln Street). Questions? Contact (608) 845-6495.

More info here.

HAPPENINGS

There are too many events to feature here! Check out FitchronaFocus.com for all happenings!

View - and bookmark - our events calendar page to see full event details, including event times and registration information.

• Monday, February 17th

  • 🎭 6:30 PM - Greece Sr. - Auditions @ Verona Area Community Theater

  • 🧩 4:30 PM - Puzzle Party @ Fitchburg Public Library

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Music Open Mic & Paint Your Cat @ Delta Beer Lab

  • ❓10:00 AM - A Taste for Mystery Book Club @ Verona Library

• Tuesday, February 18th

  • 🍺 7:00 PM - Trivia - America’s Pub Quiz @ Hop Haus Fitchburg

  • 🍺 Quizmaster’s Trivia @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 💻 11:00 AM - Tech Topics @ Fitchburg Public Library

  • 🍺 7:30 PM - Drag Queen Bingo @ Delta Beer Lab

  • 💻 9:00 AM - Drop-In Tech Help @ Verona Library

  • ☕8:00 AM - Free Coffee & Conversations for Veterans with Deb Lins - Opening Doors Together, LLC @ Cambridge Market

• Wednesday, February 19th

  • 🎵 7:05 PM - Live Music: Taylor Schereck @ Paddy Mac’s

  • 👨‍🍳 6:00 PM - Chef Brian Jupitor @ Seven Acres

  • 🧑‍🎨 6:00 PM - 3D Glass Art @ Fitchburg Library

  • 📖 Wednesday Morning Book Discussion @ Fitchburg Library

  • 🍺 7:00 PM - Premier Trivia @ Delta Beer Lab

  • 📖 7:00 PM - First Steps to Starting a Business - Session 3 with Oak Bank @Score Mentors

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Madison Jazz Jam & Workshop @ COPA & Madison Jazz Society

• Thursday, February 20th

  • 🎵 8:00 PM - Live Music: Pat McCurdy @ Paddy Mac’s

  • 🍺 6:30 PM - Trivia - America’s Pub Quiz @ Hop Haus Verona

  • 👨‍🍳 6:00 PM - Chef Brian Jupiter @ Seven Acres

  • 🎭 Suite Surrender @ Verona Area Community Theater

  • 📖 12:00 PM - Inga Witscher: Around the Farm Table - PBS Wisconsin @ Verona Library

• Friday, February 21st

  • 🍎 6:00 PM - Free! Preschool Open Gym! @ Oregon School District Community Education & Recreation

  • 🎵 Live Music: Sharona & Ray Ray @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🎨 4:00 PM - Adult Crafternoon: Resin Bookmarks @ Verona Public Library

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Live Music: Taylor Schereck @ Hop Haus Verona

• Saturday, February 22nd

  • 🧘‍♂️ 1:00 PM - Just Flow Yoga w/ the Progress Center for Black Women @ Dragonfly & Progress Center

  • 🎵 7:00 PM - Live Music: Dawg Bones @ Paddy Mac’s

  • 🐶 12:00 PM - Love Your Pet Party @ Pet Supplies Plus

  • 🎵 2:00 PM - Live Music @ Bailey’s Run

  • 🎙️ 6:00 PM - Elvis Through the Years @ Loxley

  • 🏉 12:30 PM - Grassroots Development Weekend At the Clubhouse @ Madison United Rugby

  • ☃️12:00 PM - Winter Carnival @ Seven Acres

  • 🍺 12:00 PM - 6 Year Deltaversary Party @ Delta beer Lab

  • 🎵 6:00 PM - Live Music: Deep Pool @ Hop Haus Verona

  • 🎵 Live Music: Ben Castner @ Lake Louie Brewing

  • 🐴 9:00 AM - WI Large Animal Emergency Response Fundraiser @ Indigo Trails Farm & Irongate Equine Clinic

• Sunday, February 23rd

  • 🍺 1:00 PM - Meat Raffle @ Stone Porch Alehouse

Key - * indicates event is recurring

MAKER FEATURE

This week’s maker feature is Kaya Ujikawa, creator of KMP (Kaya’s Muddy Pieces).

My small business, also known as KMP (Kaya's Muddy Pieces), started off as an experimentation with different styles as a passionate hobby in high school. As a college student, I gained more ambition to commit more time and energy to polishing my aesthetic. I am still in the process of finding what is a unique style of mine. KMP is a part of me that I wish to show and grow together with the community as I mature into my young adult years, in which I hope to create fun pieces that bring a sort of character and vibrancy to a space that could not only be unique to me but for others as well. I sell most of my pieces at the coffee/yarn shop located in Verona, it is called The Sow's Ear. See more @kaya.togei.

Know a local maker who should be featured - submit here!

CHECK IT OUT

Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts

Our arts & crafts nonprofit began 20 years ago when artists and community members joined together to buy the 2.5 acre Mineral Point, WI campus that has now become a nationally-known destination. With workshops in everything from mixed media to fiber, blacksmithing to glassblowing, heritage craft to writing, we have more than 250 ways to explore your creativity in 2025. In addition to adult workshops, we offer a summer youth program, special events, lodging, and site rental.

More information on their website or @shakeragalley.

Shake Rag Alley thinks that our readers should know about the bookstore Republic of Letters Books!

Have a place that we should check out? Submit it here.

NEIGHBORHOOD DEAL

The Wine House McFarland

The Wine House Lounge is offering for the entire month of February- $18 flatbread & $10 drink special!

🍕 $18 - Mediterranean Pizza – A delicious hummus spread topped with Mediterranean olives, tomatoes, spinach, and feta cheese. A perfect bite for every wine lover!

🍹 $10 - Cherry Kiss – A smooth and flavorful cocktail featuring vanilla vodka, amaretto, cherry, and cranberry juice—sweet, bold, and just right for the season!

📍The Winehouse Lounge 📍 4719 Farwell St., Suite 105, McFarland

Find out more on their website or @thewinehouse.mcfarland.

THANK YOU!

Thanks for reading the Fitchrona Focus today! If you found something useful, please share it with someone who has a green thumb !

Was The Focus forwarded to you?

Submit An Event or Promotion

Suggestions or Ideas For Future Newsletters